I was kicking around the idea of a BBC in my 99 Camaro. What would it take to do this? Can it be done without MAJOR modification? Will the cowl be a MAJOR problem? Will the engine need to be set too far forward?

Has this been done already and if so by whom?

BTW this is just a thought

Any thoughts or information would be appriciated.

Thanks
Tom

 

It definately can be done. I have senn only a couple 4th gens with BBC's in them but i know of two off hand. One being that lady who ran Fastest street car last year. The car ran 9.00's I think and the cowl had to be notched for the Dominator to fit. I don't think any intake, carb or FI setup would fit w/o doing some cutting. I forgot the other guys name but I don't see either car very much either. I think you would be better off with a SBC with blower and N2o to go fast unless you are some kind of chassis/welder/fitter that could do most of the work yourself and had a 850hp BBC laying around then I say do it. goodluck I don't think I would attempt it. It's hard enough working on these smallblocks in these engine bays. Later

 

There are two ways to do it. If you are a skilled wrench/fabricator, bring a lot of money and time to bear and voila, a BBC 4th gen! Alternatively, you can bring a whole lot more money, leave the car with me for a year, and I'll get it done. How about an aluminum BB with fuel injection for ~$50,000?

Rich Krause

 

Yes it can be done and done for way less than 50 k lol.

There is a few things with the cowl One are you will to get a custom intake made? If so then you could run a efi setup and keep the intake low like the gm tuner cars did and some others i have seen.

If you run a carb you will have to take the wiper out and notch the cowl (i took mine completely out and smoothed the cowl) The dist can be taken a few ways one you could run a front mount dist (one that runs off the timing belt) or a crab style and keep it low other option is a edist system if it is efi.

The headers are fairly easy to find it is are you going to try to use motor mounts or is it going to be motor plates.

I have quite a few bb conversion pics as i have considered this very hard recently.

Steven

 

Tom,

Send me the car, I can have it in and done in 30 days for ~30k, making 900+rw on motor alone, w/ another 500rw on tap from the bottle. (Don't think I'm kidding either, I have most of the parts necessary on the shelf already!)

Keeping the rear tires planted and hooking not included in this price.

Kurtis Tamez

 

Kurt: you can do an aluminum big block in a 4th gen for $30K? Where do I send money? I was only half serious about the $50K. But the number came from my own fairly detailed estimates of what the cost would be. The motor alone (the way I wanted to do it) would have cost ~$12-15K. Another $5K for the engine management and fuel system (no carbs for me). So figure $20K just to put the motor in the car with an exhaust system and a fuel/engine management system. Then another $10K in the drivetrain and $5K for miscellany like a cooling system, wiring, mounting accessories, etc. That's put my project at $35K and I quoted $50K to give myself a little leeway and some profit. The thing is, it wouldn't be as fast as what I have now. So I gave up the idea.

You could do an entire iron block BBC carb setup in a 4th gen for $30K though. Non-profit, of course.

Rich Krause

 

I just saw a '94 Z28 w/ a 502 in it this last weekend. There's a pic at http://sytyarchives.com/gallery/album01 It's the 1st one on the second row. I've also seen a 4th gen with a 454, but from what I saw, it looked like the whole engine bay had been custom fabricated.

It can be done......somehow.

Ryan

 

Here is a few pics of a buddy of mine that has a 94 Trans Am it stock front frame rails and stock fire wall in its stock location. Here are a few pics
http://www.texaskingofthehill.net/Ph...nny_esner.html
The only body part that is after market is the hood and the aero scoop.

 

Mail Payment/Ship car to:

Outlaw Race Products (aka ME!)
9011 W. Barge St.
Yakima WA 98908

Heres a breakdown for ya.

$23k All Aluminum Big Chief 632 Pro Mod Motor, 1140fwhp
$1800 FAST B2B system w/ WB02
$200 Convert Cast Manifold to EFI
$600 Dominator Throttle Body (See My Avatar)
$1000 Headers
$500 AJE Y2K K-Member
$400 Exhaust (We're dealing with Racecars here, Turndowns at the axles will suffice)
$200 Motor Mounts
$400 Misc. Bracketry
----------
$28100 Total

This was an excercise in putting a Big Block in Tom's car specifically. Tom already has a 9" Rear (I sold it to him), and IIRC a TH400 or Glide. The Fuel system would addressed, so if you want to add in a complete fuel system including Injectors and fittings, lets figure another ~$2000, for a total of $30,100. Add 3-4k for my time, and you're at ~$33k-34k. In my Original Post I mentioned ABOUT $30k, so I think we're doing ok.

We now have ALOT more power (~1750fwhp available) then you have (Not less as you mentioned). If we wanted to tame it down (Still making 1k-1100hp), and run it on Pump gas off the bottle, and use standard heads, rather then the Big chiefs, expect a HUGE Decrease in the price, since the Big Chief heads are significantly more money, along with the other various parts in this caliber Motor. Figure $4k less minimum, probably much more. We're now Under $30k.

Before you go shooting my breakdown to hell, realize one thing first, the BBC motor is NOT that hard to fit in these cars. This exact motor has already been in my car. Granted you're not going to make this work easily if you wish to keep all of your AC, Power Steering, etc, but realize this is a Racecar, not Grandmas Oldsmobile. If you can't sacrifice some daily amenities, then prepared to be at the back of the pack come raceday.

Now to be honest the motor in question is used. It has 27 passes on it, and is sitting in the shop on the engine stand right now, after being replaced by a 16.9:1 CR, 1280fwhp 632 Engine. This same motor can be bought new for about $2500 more, including the Crank Trigger, Distributor, and Oil Pan. I also should note this motor would be using a Dry Sump System.

Please let me know before you send your checks, so as the wife doesn't catch them first and spend your money at the Mall.

 

Kurt: I need my AC. But you do need that additional $10K in drivetrain and the fuel system, so you are still up to at least $40K. Also, I want a street/strip car, and that aint no street motor! Otherwise it sounds like a good deal!

Rich Krause

 

I just saw one this weekend. Not sure of the price, but it sure did look nice.

Hopefully someone took pictures of it.

 

Rich, You're right on both accounts. You do need the Drivetrain, but for Tom Specifically, he has most of what he'd need already.

As for streetability, uhm well, can't argue with ya there! Hehe.

Ya think just cuz it has 15:1 Compression ya can't run pump gas?!?!?

A Mild Big block would drive these costs so far down its not even funny. A mild Big Block with a Nice Plate System can lay down big Numbers with ease, and the conversion can be pretty minor, though I wouldn't recommend it for the novice, especially in a car trying to keep all/alot of the amenity equipment.

 

Kurt: now you are thinking along the lines I was when I contemplated this. A 502 crate with a nitrous system was what I was thinking. The problem was the accessories. I think it would have been a real PITA to work all that out. Also, the exhaust system would have been quite a fab job.

What happened was that I was considering the project was that I was anticipating a major rebuild when I got the motor out. Turns out I just needed to do rings and bearings. So it just wan't time. Maybe in a couple of years. I'd sure like it if someone came out with a kit.

Rich Krause

 

Rich, In a couple years there will be something available for ya (hopefully much sooner).

 

I'd be a customer for this, for sure. Keep us/me informed if it developes. Maybe a RamJet 502 with an aftermarket ECU and a nitrous sytem for mine?

Rich Krause